Going from an automatic to a manual

[aqua]

don't roll back on hill starts, either

no neither have I, ever

 

[moomoo]

I've been chopping and changing between an auto and a manual in the last week or so, and they have the dinky-dinkys (indicators to you ) on the opposite sides as well. My drivings been a right two and eight.

Oh yes! Mine have the indicators and windscreen wipers on the wrong sides as well.

Citygirl, I love my auto but I really hope I'm going to love my new car as much (or at least tolerate it)!

Hill starts.................

 

[aqua]

any start (hill or otherwise) isn't a problem if you have good clutch control, which lets face it, isn't exactly hard

 

[moomoo]

no neither have I, ever

Really?

I'm impressed!


When I was driving the disabled car, I would go all round so I could avoid this particular hill.

 

[aqua]

why? its so easy same principles whether you're on a hill or not

 

[moomoo]

any start (hill or otherwise) isn't a problem if you have good clutch control, which lets face it, isn't exactly hard

Any more tips or words of wisdom?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I've never understood peoples problems with hill starts - you do exactly the same thing as you do for any other start.

 

[moomoo]

why? its so easy same principles whether you're on a hill or not

Because when I first went in the manual car that we had, the handbrake didn't work and I panicked a bit and rolled back. So now I have a bit of a mental block about it all. Which is sort of why I have gone for a manual this time iyswim.

By the way - Marks and spencers redcurrent puffs - 99p for 2 packs, bloody gorgeous!

 

[moomoo]

Stop picking on me you two!

 

[aqua]

Any more tips or words of wisdom?

well I'm happy to come out with you in the car if you want its easier to explain with you doing it

basically you want to push the accelorator in very slowly and release the cluth slowly, (with the handbrake on), when you find the *bite* you will feel the car want to drive off, if you hold it here, then release the hand brake the pull of the engine will hold you steady on the hill. Then release the clutch more as you push in the accelorator and you'll drive off up the hill no worries

its just the same as you do at any start


(I can also teach ANYONE to parralel park, ask bees )

 

[moomoo]

well I'm happy to come out with you in the car if you want its easier to explain with you doing it

basically you want to push the accelorator in very slowly and release the cluth slowly, (with the handbrake on), when you find the *bite* you will feel the car want to drive off, if you hold it here, then release the hand brake the pull of the engine will hold you steady on the hill. Then release the clutch more as you push in the accelorator and you'll drive off up the hill no worries

its just the same as you do at any start


(I can also teach ANYONE to parralel park, ask bees )

Ever thought you were in the wrong job?

 

[citygirl]

believe me aqua...i'm not trying to detract from manual drivers...and i admire ANYONE who can hone that skill down to perfection, and stay that way...merely sticking up for my auto

i've come across more than my fair share of drivers with rubbish clutch control...(in the above situations)...why don't they just drive auto???

true, manuality IS an extra driving-skill...but one i can live without...just like speeding around everywhere trying to escape capture by a stealth-camera...or being able to "nip darn t'local", and get back, without detection by police, or having a crash...is all i'm saying

 

[Chz]

One thing about automatics is that once you're used to your car, you know when it's going to shift and you can easily control that with your braking/acceleration. In a world where most decent automatics will allow you to hold a gear anyways, their main problem is the loss of power off the motorway. (They all have a locking coupling in top gear) One of the reasons Americans love them so much is that the bigger your engine, the less you'll notice the difference. A 3.5L six feels almost the same, manual or automatic. A 1.2L four with an automatic... With A/C.... Uphill.... Ugh.

 

[citygirl]

One thing about automatics is that once you're used to your car, you know when it's going to shift and you can easily control that with your braking/acceleration. In a world where most decent automatics will allow you to hold a gear anyways, their main problem is the loss of power off the motorway. (They all have a locking coupling in top gear) One of the
reasons Americans love them so much is that the bigger your engine, the less you'll notice the difference. A 3.5L six feels almost the same, manual or automatic. A 1.2L four with an automatic... With A/C.... Uphill.... Ugh.

i have 1700cc currently, and have never driven under 1600cc. don't have any trouble on motorways with loss of power, might be a tad slow whilst accelerating, but ONLY from standing start(changes up after a manual would)...over distance, it's a match for any similar engined car, and some much bigger ones.

only ever had one car with kick-down on it, most of mine have been hondas(accords). i have a rover 216 now, had a volvo 440 hatchback last, 1.9l...don't need to over-rev it on manouvers(sp?), or when starting off, less-petrol consumption there.

 

[beeboo]

A 1.2L four with an automatic... With A/C.... Uphill.... Ugh.

I've got a 1L auto with A/C and you it's like driving through treacle uphill sometimes.

It's also got a turbo which seems to kick in fairly randomly, so sometimes you pootle away and a snail's pace and sometimes like a rocket. Keeps you on your toes

 

[beeboo]

basically you want to push the accelorator in very slowly and release the cluth slowly, (with the handbrake on), when you find the *bite* you will feel the car want to drive off, if you hold it here, then release the hand brake the pull of the engine will hold you steady on the hill. Then release the clutch more as you push in the accelorator and you'll drive off up the hill no worries

I love holding my car on the biting point on a hill - creeping forwards on a hill in slow moving traffic without bothering the handbrake is one of my favourite things in driving.

(I can also teach ANYONE to parralel park, ask bees )

I've always been lame at parralel parking, but slowly getting better. Best tip - if at first you don't succeed, go back and start again, rather than fanny about trying to correct a cock-up.

 

[citygirl]

so there are automatic cars that can judge weather conditions, road conditions, other drivers intentions, cyclists and other hazards and make the judgement when to change

wow, didn't know they had built cars like that yet

hmm ...bet someone has, somewhere...but i'm not sure your point disproves my point...they're all attached to braking/accelerating, which is what controls the gears...the engine revs tell it when to change, not me

 

[trashpony]

My automatic used to screech for ages in the wrong gear and then just when you thought it was going to explode, suddenly changed gear. It was quite stressful.

I much prefer driving manuals. Automatics feel worryingly like dodgems

 

[citygirl]

My automatic used to screech for ages in the wrong gear and then just when you thought it was going to explode, suddenly changed gear. It was quite stressful.

yeah, i've had cars do similar, but, like someone already said, once you get used to where it changes, how it changes, etc, then it just seems normal...

I much prefer driving manuals. Automatics feel worryingly like dodgems

another added benefit from driving auto's, i'm quite good at driving dodgems too

in fact, the ONLY minus i can think of, is falling over when you stop and get out after a long journey....falling over is common, having only one leg with any sensation

 

[Spion]

with a decent auto you CAN control when you change gear. it all works on how much pressure the engine is putting on the box. Stomp hard and it'll go to the red line, push down gently and it'll quickly run thru the gears. I detest manuals. Can't se the point in the extra leg/hand work

 

[Roadkill]

never hold traffic up, having stalled for the 56th time whilst trying to turn the car around to face the opposite direction, either.

No competent driver stalls on a regular basis, no matter what they're driving.

 

[moomoo]

No competent driver stalls on a regular basis, no matter what they're driving.

 

[ice-is-forming]

((moomoo)) you'll get used to it...driving it, not stalling it i mean

 

[moomoo]

I've been up the dreaded hill 3 times today and I think I've cracked it.

Well, at least I feel a bit more confident than I did before!

 

[geminisnake]

I much prefer driving manuals. Automatics feel worryingly like dodgems

I only drove an automatic for a few weeks a long time ago but your second sentence sums up my memory.
I got bored driving the automatic because I like changing gears.

How you getting on now moomoo??
Duh, shouldn't post from page two should I?

 

[8ball]

Automatics are made of fail.

 

[1927]

I thought if you passed on an auto you had to do a second test to entitle you to drive a manual?

If you pass in an automatic it acts as a provisional only for a manual car. Miss Daisy still hasn't told us whether she has passed a manual test!

 

[moomoo]

I took my first test in an automatic because I needed to pass quickly to get my children to school and then we had to buy an adapted vehicle as well and the only one we could afford was a manual.

So I had to take my manual test as well.

 

[MightyAphrodite]

made of fail.

why does that saying amuse me?

 

[i_hate_beckham]

Have you retaken the test then? Becuase AFAIK you're driving illegally if you haven't

Might as well be driving without a license.